Tobyhanna Army Depot announces 400 layoffs

March 11, 2013|By James Haggerty, Of The Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice

The first effects of automatic federal spending cuts at Tobyhanna Army Depot will result in the layoffs of 418 people.

The depot cited decreased funding Monday as it reported the layoffs of industrial trades and electronics contract workers will take place in three phases, including the elimination of 95 positions on Friday.

On April 15, there will be 216 people dismissed and 107 will be released April 30, the depot reported.

"We have assessed our workload thoroughly and we do not have funding or sufficient work to justify retention of these personnel at this time," Col. Gerhard Schroter, depot commander, said in a statement.

This follows Tobyhanna's announcement last week that more than 5,100 people who work at the Monroe County defense installation must take off 22 nonconsecutive days without pay between late April and Sept. 30. The depot's budget is being cut by $309 million — 35 percent of its government funding — through the end of the fiscal year under budget sequestration.